Controlled Admin Access vs Ultimate Dashboard
Compare WordPress plugins and tools side by side. Pick products with “Compare” in the software directory.
| Feature | Controlled Admin Access v2.1.3 · checked 23 Oct 2026 Free + paid · ★ 4.8/5 Visit Details | Ultimate Dashboard v3.8.18 · checked 23 Oct 2026 Free + paid · ★ 4.6/5 Visit Details |
|---|---|---|
| At a glance | ||
| Active installs | 10,000+ | 50,000+ |
| Last updated | August 20, 2026 | October 10, 2026 |
| Editions | Controlled Admin Access · Controlled Admin Access Pro ($) | Ultimate Dashboard · Ultimate Dashboard PRO ($) |
| Pros | Hides and blocks chosen admin menu pages, including direct URL access; Automatic expiry for temporary accounts; Accounts can be disabled and re-enabled without losing their settings | Custom dashboard widgets and admin menu editing in the free version; Login page branding and login redirect rules included free; No tracking or telemetry in the code |
| Cons | Restrictions cover only the core admin menus in the free version; Plugin-internal pages, activity logging and remote logout are Pro only | Several branding and login options show a PRO-only message in the free version; Onboarding email signup goes through a vendor proxy |
| Mentioned in our posts | 1 | 1 |
| More features | ||
| Other features | Hide chosen admin menu pages, Block restricted pages reached by direct URL, Automatic account expiry, Disable and re-enable account, Hide admin bar for the restricted account, Settings and user management screen, Password-free login link (Pro) ($), Activity log of restricted admin actions (Pro) ($), Remote logout of restricted admins (Pro) ($) | Custom dashboard widgets (icon, text, HTML), Admin menu editor, Admin bar item control, Login redirect rules by role, Login page customizer, Admin branding (logo, colours, layout), Settings export and import tools, Dark mode and other options shown as PRO-only ($) |
| Integrations | ||
| — | MailerLite | |
| Requires WordPress | 4.0 | 4.6 |
| Requires PHP | 7.0 | 5.6 |
| Tested up to | 7.1 | 7.1 |
| Phones home | No | No |
| External services | — | ultimatedashboard.io |